Lawn-mower.



PATBNTED JAN. 31, 1905.

L. BROWN. A LAWN MOWEN.'

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 29, 1904.

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'LAWN MOWER.

APPLICATION FILED PEB. 29. 1904.

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Patented' January 31, 1905.

- UNITED STATES PATENT iEEIoE.

vIO

LEvI BEowN, or EIorIMONn INDIANA, AssIeNon '.To

MowEEfoo., orv RICHMOND, INDIANA.

vTEE E. a N. LAWN LAwN-lvlowER.

SPEGIFICATIQN forming para of Letters Patent No. 791,397, dated January31, 1905.

l Application filed February 29, 1904. Serial No. 195,916. l Y

.To fr/ZZ whom/tt may concern.)

Be it known that I, LEvI BROWN, a citizenof Improvements in Lawn-Mowers;and vI hereby declare the following to be a full,cl ear,

and exact specification ofthe invention, such as will enable othersskilled .in the art toK Vwhich it appertains to make and use the same. fl The object of my present invention, broadly speaking, is the provisionof an improved..` lawn-mower in which a maximum of mechanical efficiencywill be developed with a minimum of power applied, while at the sametime providing a machine composed of a minimum of mechanical partsconsistent with the work` it is adapted to perform. l

Another generic object is to provide a lawn-v l .mower which willbeneat, artistic, and attractive in appearance, compactand symmetricalin its proportions, strong anddurable in construction, positive inaction,v,and capa-V ble of a'wide scope-of usefulness and eiiciency. l

A further object-isthe provision of a lawnmower constructed in accordwith well-known` mechanical principles and along scientific .lineswherein the. size, weight,and strength of the various parts have beencarefully and accurately determined, and the interactions .andcooperation of the various essential ele? ments are so nicely accountedfor that each part fills its own specific sphere and all are" combinedinto a harmonious whole to pro- .duce a mechanical ensemble and toattain other specific advantages which will presently be referred to. i,A specific object of my invention is topprovide alawn-mower in whichthe variou'sparts and mechanisms are lso positioned and ar'- Vrangedthat the weight of the machine will be principally in the rear of thecutting edge,

- more especially true when the machine is .to'obtain irs-thefprovisionof means whereby the cutting,V ed'geofy my machine may be adjusted.vertically, and that without throwing the machinegout of alinement, andwhereby `the machine Amay lbe adjusted for cutting higher o'rlower; asdesired, and means where- -by said adjustment may be accomplished easilyand quickly. i A

A-still' further object I have accomplished is the provision ofanimproved and novel boxing for main journals whereby said journals maybe easily removed and whereby the portion of the boxing most likely towear or damage may be easily replaced by a new mem-l ber.

. A further'andperhaps the most important ObjectistheDrQvision ofselfacting clutches or gears, one foreach end of the mainshaft, whereintheir actions are purely automatic and noiseless, dispensing with thegreater proportion of. friction and resulting in aminimum of ease inoperation; and, finally, an-` sol tical adjustment and completelyinclose and Y thecutting mechanism, while at the same time preservingthe proper relationship of the parts with reference to each other and tothe surface of the ground or sward; the novel and accessible boxing forthe main journals; the automatically-operatingguards for said clutches;the relative location of the various parts, and the several necessaryand. accessory elements which will presently be explained.

My invention consists in a lawn-mower containing the several distinctivefeatures stated and the relative disposition of the several parts,substantially as particularly described otherwhere in thisspecification, and in the legitimate combinations herein set forth withreference to each other and to the entire machine. In this constructionI have attempted to coordinate, systematize, and harmonize a variety ofmechanical movements and to bring into line with the general scheme ofoperation a number of mechanical operations and devices which heretoforehave had a more or less independent existence in order that in mypresent construction as a mechanical entity there will be no discordantelements.

Referring now to the drawings forming a part of this specification for avisualization of my preferred construction, Figure 1 shows a top plan ofa lawn-mower embodying in its composition the means for obtaining theabovenamed objects. Fig. 2 is a detail view of a lever I employ foradjusting certain of the parts of my mechanism. Fig. 3 is an outside endelevation of the left-hand side of my lawnmower, which view, it Will beunderstood, is identical with the opposite or right-hand side ofthemachine. Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of my mower, taken on thelineX X of Fig. 1 and taken in the direction of the arrows.` Fig. is adetail introspective view of one of the ground-wheels, and it also showsan end view of one of my clutch members. Fig. 6 is a centralcross-section of one portion of the mechanism, taken through one of theground-wheels and clutch member thereof on the line Y Y of Fig. 5 and astaken in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 7 is a detail showing aninner face end view of one of the boxingsfor the reel-axle. Fig. 8 is adetail top plan View of the parts shown in Fig. 7, and Fig. 9 is adetail plan of a portion of the gear of the ground-wheels.

Similar indices refer to and denote like parts throughout the severalviews of the drawings.

With all of the above-designated views and objects in mind I will nowtake up the description of my invention in detail, which I will refertoas briefly and compactly as I may.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be observed that myconstruction is dimerous-that is, that the parts located at each side ofmy machine are equipollent and identical in construction. Therefore forconvenience of description I will refer to the parts shown on theleft-hand side by certain characters and will simply designate on thedrawings the corresponding parts on the righthand side of the machine bya related designation or subindice.

I will first refer to the ground-wheels, which wheels are designated bythe indices A A', and each consists of an outer circumferential band,having its periphery cross-ribbed or serrated to form atraction-surface, with a flange extending centerward from the outer edgeof the band, with spokes integrally connecting the said flange with thehub portion a. The said band portion of the wheels has an internalspur-gear disposed across atan angle that is to say, a series of cogs adisposed across at an angle to the axial direction on the inner face ofthe band and equally spaced therearound. The said hubs rt projectsomewhat into the interior space of the wheels, as is indicated in Fig.6, and with journal-bearings therein, as shown.

The letters BB denote the relatively stationary bridge members,concentric with the wheels A A, which consist, essentially, of an outersegmental rim of less dimension than the inner dimension of the band ofsaid wheel, with spokes` extending centerward, carrying the centraloutwardly-extending pintle 71, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. rlhe said rimportion of the member B B is open or segmented at one portion of itscircumference, as is indicated in Fig. 5, for the purpose hereinafterappearing.- The member B B' is in Fig. 6 shown positioned in connectionwith the wheel A A/, and the wheel A A is revolubly mounted thereto bymeans of the pintle 7; being inserted in thehub a of the wheel A A@secured by the tap-bolt 1 1, extending axially from the Outsidecentrally into the pintle and clamping the washer 2 2 against the outerface of the wheel. Extending axially from the inside into the pintleb isa screw 3, shown in Figs. l and 5, oppositely disposed to the bolt 1,and is for the purpose presently stated. Extending inward from andintegral of the member B B is the protuberances B1 B, having an internalcavity to receive the ends of the cross-arm C, with its ends enteringthe said cavities and secured therein by the set-screw 4t and 4J, asIshown. The said cross-arm C is of a length to space the members B andB' to the requisite distance apart for the swath to be cut, and it issurrounded by the thimble l), which thimble is rotatable on thecross-arm C and extends to and between the protuberances B1 and B1', asshown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. Extending rearward and inclinedslightly upward from the center of the thimble D is a protuberance D',having an open cavity extending thereinto at a right angle to thethimble D, in which cavity one end of' the lever 5 is adapted to beinserted for the purpose presently made apparent. Extending rearward andslightly downward from each end of the thimble D are the fingers Dl D".The purposes of this will be explained hereinafter.

rlhe characters BE B L denote the rearwardly-extending members of theframework of my machine, which are integral with and l extend to therear from the members B B. On the outer face of the members BE BE areformed the ears El and E2 to provide means for the attachment of theforks of the propelling-haft (not shown) and which may be of any desiredconstruction, and between the I rear points of the members BE and BE' isrevolubly mounted the sward-roller 6. Through the members BE and BE',below the said ears,

.are formed segmental and substantiallyvertical slots 7, approximatelyas sh'own in Figs. 3 and 4.

v The indicesFF' denote the adjustable plates movably mounted over andseparated from the member B B', with their tail portions overlapping andcontacting with the inner face of are threaded on said bolts, as shownin Fig.

3. On the upper ends of the extremities of the plates F F' are hangersF1 F2, in which are secured the respective ends of the cross-stay G,secured therein by the set-screws 9 and 9".

The letter H denotes the mainshaft. (Shown in cross-section in Figs. 4,5, and 7, portions thereof inpFigs. 6 and 8, while-in Fig. 1 it islocated limmediately below the stay G, and therefore is not apparent.)The shaft H ,is

supportedby the respective boxings I and I',

(which will presently be referred to in'detaih) passes through aperturestherefor in the plates F and F', and on the ends thereof arevloosely andrevolubly mounted the bevel-gear pinions J, (only one of which appearsin the drawings.) The bevel-gear of the said pinions are so formed andpositioned as*v to mesh with the Lgears to of the respective-,wheels Aand A', as is indicated in Figs. 5 and 6. On the shaftH is secured thespiders 10 10' 10", to which are securely mounted the spiral knives 11,plural in number and as shown in Figs. 1 and 4.

The said boxings I I'` are shown most clearly v in Figs. 6, 7 and8-andare of novel construction, their body portions being secured to theplate F F', with their secondary members locking in the chimes thereof,the two parts surrounding the shaft H, to which they may be adjusted bythe set-screws 1212', as shown.

The letters K K'denote an arm-pivoted aty one end by the s crew 3 andthen extending rearward and downward, passing between the plate F F andthe member B B' and with an aperture'therethrough in which operates theshaft H. It will now be seen that the `shaft H and the plate F F-l maybe raised and lowered, (within the limits Yof the two rear spokes of themember B B',) with the screw 3 as its pivotal point. In order to allowof saidmovements and toretain the plate F F' in the position shown, Ihave devised a parallel movement--that is, I extend a web 13 acrossbetween the twolower spokes of themembcrs B B', and in the center ofthis web is pivoted by .the screw 14 one end of the arm L, the other@ach other, as indicatedn Fig. 4.. pivoted to' the outer .ends of thefingers AD1 D1' by the rivets 16 are the upper ends of the links M M',

`the lower ends of said links being pivoted to the arms K K' .by therivets 17. It will now be seen that by inserting the lever 5 in theprotuberance D' the lever 5 can be moved back and forth, which ofnecessity will raise and lower bar N, and on each end of the bar N isanintegral axially-extending pintle 21, (only'one appearing in thedrawings,) which extend into and operate in a correspondling apertureformed through the members F F', and then, by means of the twoy pairs ofset-screws 20 2O 20' 20', the bar N may be secured in the desiredposition to adjust its blade '22 in the proper cutting relationship withthe edge of the knives 11. v v 'v The operation of the clutch-and-pinionmechanisms will now'be referred to and are most clearly shown in Figs. 5and 6. v'Secured to the shaft H by the screw 23, as in Fig. 6, is theminor .member O of the clutclnwhile the major member P of the clutch isintegral with the gear-pinion J, above referred to. It will now beobvious that should the machine be pushed forward over the sward-thatis, in a direction to the left when referring to Fig. -the wheels A A',traveling revolubly on the sward, will support and carry all of saidparts of the l machine, also that as the said wheels revolve theinclination of the gears ci", meshing with similar gears-of the pinionJ, will by the forward thrust cause the pinion J IOO to traverse inward,thus causing the face P of the 'clutch toengage and fay with the face ofthe member O ofthe clutch, thus causing the shaft H to revolve forwardwith a multiplied motion, also if thel forwardl movement of the machinebe discontinued the gear J will be discontinued, while the revolution ofthe shaft H, carryingthe knives, may continue, eventuating in `at oncethrowing the member P out of engagementwith the member O, and themembers of the clutch will continue out of engagement with each otheruntil the groundwheels are again rotated forward, thus dispensing withany cause for clicking as the shaft and knives continue to revolve.

The letter Q denotes thel guards of identical construction, (only one ofthem appearing in the drawings,) which guards are primarily forprotection of the respective clutch-and-pinion mechanisms.l Said guardsconsistof a cap, disposed over the pinion, as shown, and secured by thescrew 24 to the arm K K' and IIO - will be apparent that I have producedan improved lawn-mowing machine embodying the objects elsewhere referredto, and while I have illustrated and described the best means now knownto me for carrying out the principles of my invention I desire that itbe fully understood that I do not restrict myself to the exact detailsof construction shown, but hold that anyslight changes or variationstherein as would suggest themselves to the ordinary mechanic wouldclearly fall within the limits and scope of my invention.

Having now fully shown and described my invention and the preferredmanner for its construction, whatI claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent of the United States, is

l. A lawn-mower of the character described having the ground-wheelsprovided with angular internal gears formed around their bands, astationary base member for each of said wheels with means for revolublymounting the respective wheels thereon, a crossstay connecting said basemembers, a main member integral with the respective base members havinga segmental vertical slot in the rear portions in rear of theground-wheels, a ground-roller mounted between the rear points of saidmain members, an adjustable plate overlying the inner faces of therespective main members with their rear ends adapted to be adjustedthereto within the limits of said slots, a reel-shaft extending throughbetween and beyond said adjustable plates, an arm pivoted to the axis ofeach base member and pivoted around said reel-shaft, a second parallelarm pivoted to said base member and to the adjusting-plates,and meansfor lowering and raising said reel-shaft froml a single point,allsubstantially as shown and described.

2. A lawn-mower having in combination, a two-part frame, a pair ofground wheels mounted to said frame, the angularly-disposed teeth formedin the bands of theground-wheels, a cross-arm connecting the members ofthe frame, a ground-roller mounted in the rear between the members ofthe frame,an adjustable plate disposed over each of the members of theframe, a cross-stay connecting the adjustable members at their tops`means for securing the adjustable members at their rear to the membersof the frame, a pair of pivoted parallel arms for guiding the adjustableplates vertically at each end of the machine, a shaft carried by saidadjustable plates, a series of spiral knives mounted on said shaft, apinion revolubly mounted on each end of said shaft each pinion havingits teeth disposed at an angle to mesh with the angularly-disposedgear-teeth formed in the band of the adjacent ground-wheel, a clutchmember integral with the said pinions, and an oppositely-disposed clutchmember secured to the shaft whereby the forward movements of thegrouml-wheel will cause the members of the clutch to engage with eachother to revolve the shaft, all substantially as shown and described.

3. A lawn-mower having in combination, a two-part relatively stationaryframe, a pair of ground-wheels revolubly mounted to the sides of theframe, a ground-roller mounted between the members of the frame, a pairof plates adjustably mounted to the respective members of the frame, across-stay connecting the said plates, a pair of pivoted parallel armsfor guiding the adjustable plates vertically, a shaft carried by theadjustable plates, a series of knives mounted on said shaft, a pinionrevolubly mounted on each end of said shaft, a clutch member integralwith each of said pinions, and oppositely-disposed clutch memberssecured to the shaft and adapted to engage with the respective clutchmembers as the machine is moved forward the shaft will be revolved andas the machine is moved backward the clutches will be disengaged, allsubstantially as shown and described and for the purposes set forth.

4. In a lawn-mower, the col'nbination with a relatively stationary framemounted on ground-wheels and means for its propulsion, a pair of platesadjustably mounted to the respective members of the frame, a cross-stayconnecting said plates, a pair of pivoted parallel arms at each end ofthe machine for guiding the plates vertically, a main shaft carried bythe adjustable plates, a series of knives mounted on said shaft, apinion mounted revolubly on each end of said shaft, a clutch memberintegral with each of said pinions, and a clutch member secured to theshaft, substantially as described,

5. In a lawn-mower, the combination of a main frame, a pair ofground-wheels mounted on the frame, angularly-disposed teeth formed inthe band of the grouml-wheels, an adjustable frame mounted within themain frame and pivotally connected with the main frame concentric withthe ground-wheels, means for securing the adjustable frame to the mainframe at desired elevations, the main shaft and a cutter-bar carried byand adj ustablo with the inner frame, the spiral blades carried by saidshaft, means for adjusting the cutter-bar in relation with the knives,the lever for verti cally adjusting said inner frame, a clutch mountedto each end of the main shaft wherel )y the said shaft will be revolvedby and with a multiplied speed from the forward revolutions of either orboth of the grouml-wheels, and an adjustable guard for each of saidclutch mechanisms, all substantially as shown and described.

6. In a lawn-mower, the combination with arigid frame united by across-arm having a thimble therearound, a pair of ground-wheels mountedto the frame, an inner frame mounted for vertical adjustment withreference to the rigid frame, a shaft extending through and between theend members of the inner frame, a two-part interlocking boxing securedto each of the end members of the inner frame for the support of saidshaft, an arm pivoted at one end to and near each end of the shaft andpivoted at the other end tothe main frame concentric with theground-wheels, a bar parallel with the said arm one end being pivoted tothe main frame and the-other end pivoted to the inner frame, alink'pivoted to and extending up from the said arm and pivoted to therespective fingers extending out from -said thimble, means in the centerof ,said thimble for turning it on said cross-arm, and means foradjustably securing the inner frame to the main frame after beingadjusted, all substantially as shown and described.

frame to the stationary frame at each end of the machine, a link pivotedto each of said fingers of the thimble and extending -to and pivotedwith the upper parallel arms, means for securing the rear ends of theadjustable framein connection with the stationary frame, the shaftcarrying a series ofy spiral blades and the adjustable cutting-barcarried by said inner frame, and the automatic clutches and pinionsconnecting said shaft with the groundwheels,all substantially asdescribed andl shown andk for the purposes set forth.

8. Ina lawn-mower, the combination of a rigid frame mounted onground-wheels, the cross-arm uniting the extrememembers of the frame, athimble revoluble on said cross-arm,

n a finger extending out from near each end of said thimble, the groundWheels revolubly mountedat each end to said frame, an inner framemounted for vertical adjustment' with reference to the rigid frame, arotatable shaft extending through and between the end members of theinner frame, atwo-part interlocking boxing carried by each of the endmembers of the inner frame in which boxing said shaft is adapted torevolve` arms pivoted near each end of the shaft with their oppositeends pivoted to the mainframe concentric with the ground-wheels, barsparallel with each of said arms one of the ends being pivoted to themain frame and the otherend pivoted to the inner frame, a link pivotedto and extending up from each of said arms and pivoted to the respectivefingers extending out from said thimble, means central of said thimblefor rotating i atively stationary frame mounted on groundwheels,meansfor the propulsion of the mower j manually,.a pair of platesadjustably mounted to the respective members of the frame, a crossstayconnecting said plates, a pair of pivoted parallel arms located at eachend of the mower for guiding said plates vertically, a main shaftcarried by the adjustable platesa pluralityy frame, a thimble revolubleon said cross-arm, a pair of identical fingers integralwith andextending out from the end portions of said thimble, theground-,wheelsmounted revolubly to said frame, an inner frame mounted for verticaladjustment with reference to the vrigid frame, a rotatable shaftextending through and between the end membersof the inner frame, atwo-part interlocking boxing permanent to `each of the end membersof-the inner frame by which boxings said shaft isv carried, arms pivotedat one end near each end of the shaft with their opposite endspivoted'to the main frame concentric with the ground-wheels, barsparallel with each of said arms one of the ends being pivoted to themain frame and the other end pivoted to the inner frame, a link pivotedto and extending up from each of said arms and pivoted to the respectivelingers of said thimble, means for rotating said ithimble on saidcross-arm, and means for securing the i'nner frame to the main frameafter the frame has been adjusted, all substantially as described.

l1. In a lawn-mower, the combination, of a relatively stationary framecarried by a pair of ground-Wheels each having a rim, angularlydisposedgear-teeth formed interiorly of said wheels, a movable frame mounted toand between the members o f the stationary frame, a pair of interlockingtwo-part adjustable boxingscarried by the two outer opposite members ofthe'inner frame, a shaft carried by said boxings with its ends extendinginto the interior space of said wheels, a bar mounted between the lowerparts of the secondary cross-arm uniting the extreme members of the yIOO c1 uteh with the teeth of said pinions disposed i In testimonywhereof I have hereunto subat an angle and meshing with the gear-teethscribed my name in the presence ol two suh- IO 0f their respectiveground-\vheels, means for scribing Witnesses.

raising and lowering said shaft and bar indefr i 5 pendent of theground-Wheels and main frame, LEVI BRO b' and means for securing saidshaft and bar in Witnesses: their adjusted positions, all substantiallyas J. M. LONTZ,

described. R. W. HANDLE,

